| "The Debarted" | |||
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| Gossip Girl episode | |||
Blair helps Chuck in grieving the anniversary of his father's death. |
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| Episode no. | Season 3 Episode 12 |
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| Directed by | Jason Ensler | ||
| Written by | Stephanie Savage | ||
| Production code | 312 | ||
| Original air date | December 7, 2009 (The CW) | ||
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| Episode chronology | |||
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"The Debarted" is the 55th episode of the CW television series, Gossip Girl.[1] It was also the twelfth episode of the show's third season. The episode was written by executive producer and one of the series' creator Stephanie Savage and directed by Jason Ensler. It originally aired on Monday, December 7, 2009 on the CW.
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On the first anniversary of Bart Bass' death, Chuck wrestles with the dilemma of following his conscience, or that of his father Bart (Robert John Burke), who manifests as hallucinations that periodically taunt him, calling him weak and incapable. Blair follows him and reminds him of his father's death anniversary, telling him to rest and that he is not like his father. Blair turns to Lily to convince him to visit his father's grave. Lily realizes that her letter is missing and rummages through a coat closet to find it, fearing that anyone's discovery of the letter from Serena's father would unknowingly release her frustrations regarding Serena's affair.
Meanwhile, Serena had been staying with Tripp (Aaron Tveit) in a cottage at Long Island, having left New York and disappointed her mother in the previous episode when their affair had been discovered. Tripp leaves to speak with his grandfather regarding his divorcing Maureen (Holley Fain) but Serena suspects the opposite when she calls Nate and he tells her that Tripp is not with his grandfather, who is in Bermuda. Viewers then see Tripp still maintaining contact with Maureen and is trying to solve his keeping his political career and still have Serena. Serena's suspicions are confirmed when Tripp's wife Maureen arrives on his behalf at the cottage and presents to her an offer: an opportunity to become Tripp's mistress. Realizing her mistake, Serena leaves with Tripp to drive her back home but as they argue along the way, the car swerves Tripp flees unscathed while Serena is left injured and in the driver's seat instead of the passenger seat. Nate arrives and Serena asks for Tripp, revealing that he had been driving.
Back in New York, Dan and Vanessa attempt to navigate their newly complicated friendship when Dan seeks a new potential relationship with one of Vanessa's friends. Dan fails in his attempt but receives a phone call from Lily, telling him about Serena's accident. He then goes to find Blair and meets a confused Vanessa and takes them to the hospital.
At the hospital, Nate threatens Tripp with blackmail and he confronts him. Maureen reveals her plan that would keep him from getting arrested but still finds Tripp distasteful. Despite Tripp's concern for Serena, Nate punches him and leaves. Lily arrives and during a casual conversation, Lily slips that she has not told Rufus about the letter. A disappointed Serena asks her to leave and Blair arrives. Serena tells her that she was right about the consequences of the affair. By the time Chuck arrives, a flashback shows his inability to cope with his father dying and Blair comforts him, telling him he carries people, including her, further reminding him that he is the man that his father couldn't become.
Maureen arrives at Lily and Rufus' apartment and gives Rufus the letter that Lily had been hiding from him.
An ending montage shows Dan confessing his feelings for Vanessa as she dismisses it as response from Dan feeling upset over the accident, Rufus is then seen with Holland Kemble (Sherri Saum) at a bar, discussing what viewers assume to be the beginning of an affair between the two of them, Jenny sneaking out of the apartment to meet Damien for a drug deal, and when Chuck arrives to visit his father's grave, he catches a glimpse of a woman who calls him by his first name and she flees, leaving a locket for him to pick up bearing the letter E and a photo of Bart on the back.
For the mid-season finale of the show's third season, Leighton Meester was dressed in an Escada coat, a Valentino bag, black fleece Brooks Brothers skirt, black Falke fishnet tights, and Lanvin pumps. Meester also sported an Alexander McQueen dogstooth print blouse for the episode. InStyle praised Meester's attire, calling it "an eyeful of style".[2]
"The Debarted" received mostly positive reviews. Isabelle Carreau of TV Squad said that the episode should have aired in January, given how many cliffhangers the episode had, because it would have a better rating. He also praised the episode's main storylines, involving Chuck dealing with his father's one anniversary of death; Serena and Tripp's relationship; and Dr. Van der Woodsen's mysterious letter.[3] Jennifer Sankowski, from the TV Guide, had criticized Dan and Vanessa's storyline, replying that "this plot line felt a bit rushed, like there wasn't much room for it in this episode". However, she had praised the scene where Nate punches his cousin by commenting, "he so deserved that!". When it comes to Chuck's storyline, she said that "it was a refreshing change to see dark Chuck again", and later mentioned that she had "forgot just how cruel Chuck can be".[4]
The actions taken by Serena in this episode, however, were mainly criticized. Enid Portuguez from Los Angeles Times said that "Her judgment has been more than impaired lately", and that "if it weren't for the wolves that caused Trip's Range Rover to swerve", he was sure that Serena would actually have reconsidered and accepted being Tripp's secret mistress. He gave a negative review to Blake Lively's performances in the episode, by saying in other words that Serena's accident "was the only head injury I have ever cheered for". He also said that when it comes to Lily and Rufus's problems in their marriage, he would expect "a showdown between Rufus and Dr. Van der Woodsen".[5]
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